Chapter 4

• Harper kept her distance for a while till things started to die down. Cheerleading finals were going on and Bethany and her squad had left for the week. Which gave Harper a sigh of relief. Caleb also took advantage of her absence and spent every moment he could with Harper. He walked her to her classes and even home. He helped with a few projects she had for the yearbook and she even let him help her take some of the photos knowing he liked photography.
• Harper couldn’t help to notice how sweet he was to her all the time. She never understood why he was with Bethany of all people but she wouldn’t judge.
• But when the week was over things went back to normal and Bethany’s team was back and bothering Harper any chance they got. Passing more rumors. Pushing her in the hallways. Tripping her. Replacing her items in her locker with slime. Harper was starting to feel herself breaking slowly. The constant bullying was really getting to her.
• But Bethany wasn’t done. She had something up her sleeve.
• Harper had gym last period so when she was going back in to change and opened her locker her clothes were missing.
• Then Bethany and her cheerleaders surrounded her.
• “Bethany aren’t you getting tired of this.”
• Bethany just smirked. “Girls!” She said with a snap of her finger the other cheerleaders pulled out scissors and started going towards Harper.
• “What are y’all doing? Stop. Stop that! Let go of me.” She yelled but no one stopped or help her. Before she knew it her gym clothes were completely removed from her body and she was only left in her bra and underwear.
• Then Bethany leaned over and whispered. “Now let’s see how you think Caleb will see you now.” Harpers eyes widened.
• “What do you mean by that?” Harper whimpered out.
• “Oh you’ll see.”
• Then out of no where one of the girls grab Harper’s hair and yanked her. Making her follow behind her.
• She squealed in pain but the girl didn’t stop the tugging. As she kept pulling her behind her. She was looking down but she could tell they left the locker room and were not outside.
• Then she heard Bethany’s voice call out. “Caleb are you ready?”
• Earlier that day Bethany had told Caleb to get the football team together because the cheer squad wanted to show them something. He normally wouldn’t disagree but he was already standing with a few of the other football players and they seemed eager to see what they had planned. So with his team he headed out to the football field and waited. He could feel something was up but didn’t know what till…
• He heard Bethany’s voice call out. “Caleb are you ready?”
• Caleb turned around to see Bethany walking with her squad following behind her. And then one of the cheerleaders Bri walked past Bethany holding a girl by her hair. Her hands gripping at Bri hands digging in her hair. Without a chance to say anything Bri pushed the girl forward. Then she looked up and Caleb’s face went pale.
• “Harper” Caleb whispered.
• Harpers eyes caught Caleb’s and she stared straight at him. Her expression changed the moment their eyes met and he could tell she was shocked to see him. Not carrying about her exposed body anymore or the laughing and taunting the cheerleaders and football players were all saying. She stared into Caleb’s eyes as her arms dropped to her sides.
• Caleb stared into Harper’s eyes and for a fleeting moment he could see the spark he always loved seeing in her eyes. But it quickly faded, and there’s was no spark. Her eyes were fixed on his as she turned to walk away. Caleb couldn’t help but feel a sharp and deep pain in his chest.
• *What have I done? I knew I shouldn’t have trusted Bethany. I should have never believed her. For the past week all I’ve heard is how Bethany had been messing with Harper and was the one who hurt her as well. But this was too far. I had to fix this. Make it right!*
• Caleb ran after Harper but she was already gone.
• The next day he searched for her but couldn’t find her anywhere. Finally he saw her best friend Morgan and went to ask her.
• “Where’s Harper?”
• “Why the hell would you care. Oh wait you think I’d tell you so you can play another trick on her. No forget it!”
• “I want to apologize to her. I never meant for any of this to happen. I really didn’t know Bethany was going to do that.”
• Morgan stared at him. “Well it’s doesn’t matter anymore, it’s too late. She transferred to a new school this morning.”
• “What?”
• “She couldn’t take any of it anymore, she didn’t even seem like the same person I knew. She just seemed…” her voice trailed off before she spoke the last word Caleb wanted to hear. “Broken.”
• That piercing chest pain was back. Like something was stabbing his heart.
• “What did I do?” He asked himself.
• When school was over he rushed over to Harper’s home. But was quickly greeted with more pain as he saw a for sale sign in the front yard. And a moving truck pulling out of the driveway.
• “Wait. Wait.” He called but he watched the truck drive away.
• He then quickly went up to the front door hoping he was mistaken but when stepped onto the porch he could see the inside of the house from the front window. It was completely cleared out.
• “The Bings left a few hours ago.” A voice said from behind. Caleb turned to see Mr. Dawn one of Harper’s neighbors. He remembered always seeing her say him to him as she walked home.
• “Do you know where they were going?”
• “No. They seemed to be in a hurry. They had the movers do the rest which is who you just saw pull out. They didn’t say why they were moving. But Harper didn’t seem too happy, she was crying when I noticed they were leaving. She gave me a sad smile before they left.”
• Caleb just stood there, he had really fucked up this time. Harper never deserved any of that. She was always kind to him and all he did was play obliviously dumb to what Bethany was doing to her. And that very moment all he wanted to do was apologize and make her see he never meant any of it. But he looked down the street and knew he probably lost that chance.